My early motorcycling days

By Caroline Ash - 23/03/2014

Caroline learning to ride in Palace Road

Sometimes life makes you do things outside your comfort zone. This has happened to me soon after I met Kevin. It was after a particularly frightening encounter on the underground travelling back to Kevin’s place late at night. That evening I made a decision to learn to ride a motorbike, just as Kevin had to tried to encourage me to do. On a bike, he pointed out, I could go anywhere, whenever I wanted and be in full control of my life.

Now, years later, I am so grateful Kevin gave me that skill.

Seven years later, I passed my driving licence; again after Kevin convinced me it would be better to be able to drive the car. By this stage we had two daughters who loved sitting in buggies and being pushed around instead of walking. I accepted that living in England without a driving licence is the same as not having a bicycle in Holland. They just go hand in hand.

Kevin and I lived in Streatham, south London, when he bought me a second hand MZ 125. Horrible bike, difficult to handle, or maybe that is what learners say, perhaps. I don’t have a picture of the bike, which, I think sums up my feelings for it. As I found the handling hard, it taught me to concentrate and master good throttle control. I also found the problem with the front brake, which was either 'on' or 'off' with little in between.

I practiced riding the MZ on Palace Road, tactfully annoying households a little further away than our immediate neighbours. I improved in a short time with Kevin instructing me, despite me being a pain in the behind, to put it nicely. This was much more to do with Kevin being the most patient teacher you can imagine than my biking ability. He was to teach me how to drive a car years later.

I learned the Highway Code and Kevin quizzed me on it.

I remember struggling to answer the question of the order of the traffic lights. Warning, I still struggle to tell the order. Maybe it's best not to meet me at a junction.

The test took place in the Croydon test centre. I had to ride there by myself. Surely, I thought, that must be a test in itself? If I get there and back in one piece, without too much damage in my wake, that should be enough? What are they going to say if I fail?

“Sorry, you haven't passed, have a pleasant ride home." Bizarre.

Well, I failed. Actually, I think I passed but the bike failed. I passed the theory test, as they didn't quiz me on traffic lights. I also passed the little whiz round the block, where the examiner steps out of the pavement and you have to slam your brakes on in a controlled way. As the examiner didn’t know the lack of controllability of my bike, he wasn’t aware how was lucky he was to be able to step back on the pavement.

Caroline learning to ride

Caroline learning to ride on Palace RoadIn what looked like a scruffy car park I had to perform some handling skills. First, some weaving in and out of cones which I knew I could do, next was the test where you ride at 30mph toward four cones, placed as a small square, and then come to a stop between the cones. My downfall. I rode up, checked my speedometer, which said 30mph. So far, so good. Then the cones loomed. I pulled the front brake in and nothing happened, I pulled it a little harder and then the bikes stopped dead, outside the cones. The brakes were either on or off, little in between. Had I done this test first, I am sure the examiner would not have been so casual in stepping off the pavement in front of my bike.

I rode home, very disappointed, with the offending “failed” slip of paper folded up in my coat. I could feel it burning a hole in my pocket. I thought everybody could see I hadn't passed.

“I blame the bike." I said to Kevin when I arrived back, "You try!”, and he promptly failed the cone test too. If Kevin couldn’t park the MZ in between the four cones then I think there was hope for me yet! Out went the MZ and in came the Honda 125. Black and shiny, a lovely bike. I passed without any problems a few weeks later. So blaming one's tools can be correct.

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Kevin's funeral was held on Thursday 28th February 2013 and was well attended by family, friends and colleagues.

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